Smokies Spring Break hike (kinda) TR

“Once again I was taking some Boy Scouts hiking for a week in the Smokies during their spring break.

Apparently the park will no longer issue overflow permits to groups doing service work. The reason given sounded like individuals at the park were choosing to ignore the group size restriction in our favor due to the work we provide and smoeone with real authority said "No more". Oh well, no biggie two groups, two trips.

The first group (mine) was to Start Saturday at Davenport gap and follow the AT to Icewater Springs and then climb LeConte and end at Alum Cave trailhead on 441. Six nights on the trail.

The second group was to drop us off saturday, spend the night at Smokemont campground and Treebait helped them leave the van for us at Alum cave. They were going to hike to the Cabin Flats campsite then to Icewater Springs and then follow the AT southbound past Silers Bald and down to campsite 27 ans end a Elkmont. 5 nights on the trail.

So after a long drive up from Florida the dropped us at the park boundary at Davenport Gap. We were a bit rushed so some of the guys left a few things they wanted behind. Luckily the only thing missing that really mattered was Madmans saline solution for his contacts. Ah well, we improvised and nothing was an issue.

The hike up to Davenport was a mere .8 miles but I was wheezing. I guess I let myself get out of shape. Madman had a bit of it too. During the hike up I had the feeling like I had something coming on but no symptoms at all. Y'all know the nagging feeling of somethign ain't right but nothing solid? Yeah, that feeling.

We got to the shelter and chatted it up a Father/son/sons friend group and a couple of thruhikers. Nice folks all. They were blown away that we packed in foot long subs for dinner. I felt better at the shelter and put off my concerns. I felt fine.

Next morning Madman and I had slipped something extra into our packs and made breakfast for our crew of 6. A dozen fresh eggs and kielbasa. Good stuff.

We cleaned up and hit the trail late. No biggie as this was a group of very strong hikers. We hit a level streach and I hiked easy. Downhill? No problem. Go up? Sucking wind, no power at all.

Crap, hopefully I'll tune in another day or so.

We hit Mt Cammerer Tower for lunch. Awesome views and good company. So far the weather had been the best we had seen in 6 years of spring break trips. Cool crisp and clear with light snow on the ground in patches. Just blessed.

We continued on to Cosby Shelter. Same thing sucking wind and feeling like hell on the climbs worse than the previous day and that morning.

Got the shelter and felt fine. The father/son/sons friend combo were there again. We talked a bit and then I noticed something. These guys did a longer day than us and they roll up on camp and all they had for dinner was a brick of ramen.

I don't get it. That's all? Just a ramen cube? Now different strokes for different folks and all but that's it for dinner? Hell, I need more calories than that. In my mind ramen is merely a placeholder for a real meal. Kinda like a "put food here" sign until the real food gets there and the sign can be taken down.

They eyed our dinner of rehydrated ground beef and hamburger helper cheeseburger macaroni like wolves.

Next morning we get up and I think maybe it's a calorie thing with me as I normally don't eat breakfast at home. So I ate a bit more food than normal to get the calories up.

We hit the trail and in 100 yards I have to stop. I felt like pure hell. Remember your first backpacking trip with that too heavy pack on your first real climb?

Worse.

Dang my pack isn't that heavy and this is not a tough climb. Could I possibly be that out of shape? Geez the other hikes I did this year were all free and easy.

So I stuggle up to Inadu Knob about mid day and they guys are all ahead of me. I got dizzy, lightheaded and leaned over and puked.

Damn.

I got to the trail junction with Snake den Ridge trail and the guys were waiting on me. More like laying in wait. I got pummeled with snowballs from about four directions.

I sat there and tried to thing this through. All weather reports we had seen said we were going to get hammered with rain and snow the next three days. We had seen no indicators of such though. But if it did happen I'd be in a world of hurt. Maybe this thing will pass soon but untill then I'd be a boat anchor. Treebait was chilling out down in Elkmont and Snake Den goes into Cosby. I could use the phone of get a ride.

At that point another hiker passed by said hello and headed down Snake Den.

Hmmm....

After a little more rumination I decided that the mountains aren't going anywhere soon and that I was done for this trip. the guys were a bit bummed at that. (And began feeling really crappy that they ambushed me too, BAH, by any measure it was funny) So I headed down and out.

I caught up to the hiker when he stopped for lunch and we sat a talked. Come to find out Jim was lurker here and he hand his buddy had attended TC4. Small planet. Jim shared some tuna with me and we hiked out to Cosby together. The hike down aggravated my left foot that I had folded over in Feb in Osceola NF. Great, just keep it coming.

When we got to Cosby we discovered that there isn't a payphone there. The nearest one was in Cosby at Larry's firework at the junction of 32 and 321. A pretty good distance. Jim had a ride coming and offered me a lift so I waited and talked with him a bit.

Before too long two other hikes came off the trail and they allowed us to use there cell phone. No dice, no signal. So instead they gave us a ride to the phone and a couple of beers. I said no thanks to the beer and let Jim have mine.

So at the phone I could get Treebait. Apparently she was in Elkmont and there is no reception there. I was hoping that I could catch her on a foray into town. No such luck.

Jims ride arrived and they graciously offerd me a ride to the van at Alum cave, well out of their way. Thank you again.

Once in th avan I drove to Elkmont and met up with Treebait. She was of two minds. Bummed that my hike was cut short and I felt crappy but thrilled that she has me all to herself for a week. Something we haven't been able to do since before Laurel was concieved.

So we hung out together and generally enjoyed ourselves. I had considered getting back on the trial and hookig up witht eh h=guys at Icewater Springs but didn't feel 100% until late the day that they were to arrive. I opted to just call the hike a wash.

Friday I drove around and collected our two crews, bought food and got showers and we all headed to Cosby to cook up some steaks and relax after a great hike. The weather was the best I had ever seen that week. Just awesome.

Nowslimmer stopped in to say hi as did smokygirl and Azimuth. It was good to see you guys again.

David Dinwiddie came out to see us at Cosby. Three months after nearly dying at Inadu Knob and now missing two toes and not able to fully use his hands. He packed his van to come see the boys, tell his stories well into the night and then get up a 4am to make breakfast for the guys. Including homemade doughnuts on site.

Awesome guy, sitting there around the campfire listening to him talk makes you feel like you are 8 again.

Apparently when they carried him off the mountain they left his stuff behind and some mother#&%!$er took all his gear and sold it on ebay. Someone needs an asswhipping. The Troop is going to get him hooked up again.

I know we all love to crack on Backpacker Magazine but they were kind enough to give David a new Down jacket and sleeping bag. Much thanks Backpacker.

Despite the cut short hike I had a good time on this trip anyhow, just not the good time I was expecting.

Photos:

Madmans:
http://66.177.97.204:8080/bsa2005/

Chris's:
http://www.abitaboutbrenna.com/chris/BSA_HA_05/”

“Sorry you fell out on the hike. But it seems all turned out well by the end of the Trip.

Sorry I missed you at the Front Porch.”

“Sorry about the hike, but congrats on letting reason rule over emotion. I've let my want to over-ride things a time or two and regretted it every time.”

“Thanks, I really can't complain.
I got a great week with my wife and I have a week of hiking coming up in Montana this July.

I'll just be sure I'm ready.”

“Well that's the great thing about the Smokies isn't it. It's all good.

3+9 = Christmas baby?”

“Hi Michael. Sorry to hear you didn't feel well. Will try to look over pictures later. Chuckled with you on Ramen info.”

“HPM - What's the name of hte thread where yall got snow/ice bound. Was it 3 years ago?”

“Which time that he was snow/ice bound? It's been a couple of times for that.”

“The time that about the 3rd day the whole troup got nailed. The specific picture I recall is them hiking on a the still closed Clingmon's Dome Road with huge icicles hanging off the rock face adjacent to the road.”

“2000 or 2001, I think. Search the archives, I guess. HPM's getting newtires this morning, so he's a little late getting to a computer.”

“DH, the saga of 2001 is on hpm's website, not here.”

“I thought the baby ref would get a quick denial. The Sound of Silence!

Thanks for the link.

HPM - I'm going to email you a printing question in a bit.”

“Nope, no babies this trip.

Maybe next time.”

“"I thought the baby ref would get a quick denial." -- laughs, since BOTH of my children were born in December.”

“I know the feeling of being "off" all too well. Sometimes I stubbornly push on, sometimes I'm smart and give up.

I wonder if the TC4 lurker was the guy who wandered into the area as the cookoff started.”

“I'm glad to know your o.k.
Must've been the yellow mustard ;]”

“Zee yellow mustard is KRRAAAAP!
Only zee brown!

Get out of my deli.
Infidel!”